I'll play Brad here for a moment (is there a movie in this - "Being Brad"?) and suggest that he would argue that both instances should be expressed in the simple past:
 

I applied to the date lab because "I recently BROKE UP (not had broken) with some one."
I applied to the date lab because "I WAS (not had been) single for too long."

 
In fact, the graphic supports this line of argument in its own examples:
 

I applied to the date lab because "I was (not had been) drunk."
I applied to the date lab because "I was new (not had been) in the area
I applied to the date lab because "I wanted to be (not had wanted to be) in the Washington Post."
I applied to the date lab because "I wanted (not had wanted) a free meal."
I applied to the date lab because "I wanted (not had wanted) to make a new friend."
I applied to the date lab because "My friend made (not had made) me do it."
I applied to the date lab because "I thought (not had thought) it would make a good story."
I applied to the date lab because "I wanted (not had wanted) to meet a romantic partner."
I applied to the date lab because "It sounded (not had sounded) fun."

 
More interesting would be an analysis of why one is right and the other wrong - a task that's beyond my ken!
 
Geoff Layton
 
PS:  Am I right, Brad?